Does not intrench upon the freedom of human agency 4. It justifies the expectation of the future triumph of Christianity and the harmony of the world. Moral history of mankind deeply interesting to the Christian philosopher; in all great changes and moral improvements providence has prepared the way-Mo- ses-Elijah-Cyrus-Prideaux-Roman emperor- Aspect of the present time-State of the world-Whit- by-Original commission sufficient to justify every exertion - Prophecy- Romans eleventh-Jews- Poetic ages inverted-Whether the Jews shall return to their own land immaterial-Visible reign of Christ on earth not justified by Scripture-Schleusner- Parkhurst-might be urged in favour of pilgrimages to the Holy Land-But no spiritual benefit could accrue to the church at large-Milton-Presence of Christ-Mede-As Christianity did triumph so will it again-Effects will be generally influential-An identity in knowledge and views not to be expected -Christian forbearance and humility will prevail- the Spirit-Our duty-Education-Translation of the Scriptures-Missionaries-Diffusion of knowledge-results. 5. It will finally develop individual character. The state of man constantly represented as a state of imbecility-Redemption designed to meet the case -Inference sometimes drawn which is only partially just-Duty and privilege to be distinguished-Prophet Isaiah-Gentiles-Duty as soon as the Gospel is propounded-General view of the ScripturesNinth chapter of Romans-Vessels of wrath-Vessels of mercy--Ground of man's condemnation-Difficulties-Development of character-Two descriptions-Conclusions 114---175 ON THE NATURE OF DIVINE AGENCY, &c. CHAPTER I. On the meaning of the terms Spirit as employed by the Sacred Writers. THE variety of meanings, though analogous, attached by the sacred writers to the Hebrew word Ruach, and to the Greek word Pneuma, have thrown, in the apprehension of some, a degree of obscurity, if not of uncertainty, over the personality of the Holy Spirit. But, independently of that perspicuity with which every writer expresses himself, whose desire is to be understood, the B supposition of their having employed the respective terms so indefinitely as to leave it doubtful to their readers whether they intended an intelligent being, or an attribute-a quality, or the wind, is inconsistent with their inspiration; and, if admitted, would render the Scriptures often unintelligible on a subject of infinite moment, would unsettle the faith of plain minds, and would generate an universal indifference to their paramount authority. So far, however, is this from being the case, that the writers of the New Testament in particular have, in given instances, marked with the utmost precision the sense in which they use the term rendered Spirit. Whether the primitive. meaning usually attributed to the terms be correct is immaterial, since it is not intended to trace their etymology, but to exhibit the various senses in which they actually occur. Both words then are used, |